A team of Mumbai Police entered the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) campus late Monday night with significant force, detaining several students who were participating in a candlelight vigil to honor human rights defender G.N. Saibaba on the first anniversary of his death.
“There is still police presence on the campus. They arrived just hours ago,” a student informed Maktoob at 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
Details regarding the police’s motivations remain unclear, with students expressing confusion over the situation. “We don’t know why the police came or who filed a complaint. It was a peaceful gathering to commemorate a rights defender,” the student added.
According to a report by the Indian Express, Mumbai Police invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of “causing prejudice to the nation,” “promoting enmity between groups,” and “unlawful assembly,” against at least ten students.
An FIR was registered following a complaint from the TISS administration. A senior TISS official, who requested anonymity, stated that the gathering occurred around 9 p.m. on Sunday and that the administration was not informed in advance. “We only became aware of the event through social media posts sharing photos and videos, which questioned TISS for its allowance of such a gathering. The posts also tagged the Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis,” the official explained.
The official referenced Hindu right-wing social media accounts that shared images of the vigil while demanding action against the students involved.
On Monday, police from the Trombay division, which oversees the TISS Mumbai campus, arrived in multiple vans and quickly moved through the premises. “The police are still inside the campus, interrogating students for hours,” reported another student.
Students alleged that the memorial gathering had been targeted by individuals affiliated with Hindutva organizations on campus. “They hurled abuses at us and tore photos of Saibaba,” one student recounted, while another added, “There is heavy police presence on the campus, and an atmosphere of fear has gripped students.”
Additionally, students reported that police were documenting the identities of those who gathered in solidarity with the detained peers. “Shockingly, TISS officials were also present and joined in the abuse towards students,” one student claimed.
This incident underscores the tensions surrounding campus gatherings in India, especially those linked to human rights issues, and raises questions about the balance between security and free expression on campuses.
Tags: Mumbai Police, TISS students, G.N. Saibaba, death anniversary gathering, laptops seized
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